Collins announces dredging of Lake Ontario harbors set for 2014

by jmaloni

Press release

Tue, Apr 16th 2013 08:00 am

Congressman
Chris Collins, NY-27, is announcing the dredging of three Lake
Ontario harbors is on track to happen next year. Collins said the
Army Corp of Engineers now has the funding it needs to perform
maintenance dredging in Oak Orchard, Olcott and Wilson harbors.
Dredging removes built-up sediment that, over time, narrows a
harbor's channel dimensions and creates unsafe navigation
conditions for both commercial and recreational boating.

"The
dredging of these three local harbors is long overdue," Collins
said. "Local residents and government leaders have been pushing the
federal government to prioritize the work in order to maintain and
maximize the harbors' economic and recreational importance. These
waterways are not only used for summer boating and recreation, but
play a critical role in supporting the regional economy through the
charter fishing industry. As a new member of Congress, I will push to
make sure this long-delayed work finally happens in the summer of
2014."

According
to the US Army Corps of Engineers:

•Oak
Orchard Harbor (Town of Carlton, Orleans County) was last dredged
in 2004 when 10,700 cubic yards of material was removed. This harbor
should be dredged every three to five years. In order to maintain
adequate channel depth, 18,000 CY of dredging will be required. The
total sediment backlog is estimated at approximately 35,000 CY.

•Olcott
Harbor (Village of Olcott, Niagara County) was last dredged in
1997 when 9,900 cubic yards of material was removed. This harbor
should be dredged every five to 10 years. The current sediment
backlog is estimated at approximately 55,000 CY.

•Wilson
Harbor (Town of Wilson, Niagara County) was last dredged in 2000
when 5,100 cubic yards of material was removed. This harbor should be
dredged every three to five years. The current sediment backlog is
estimated at approximately 55,000 CY.

Collins
is co-sponsoring the Realize America's Maritime Promise Act, or
RAMP Act (H.R. 335), which would help ensure the funding is in place
for routine maintenance dredging. This bipartisan legislation
guarantees that the funds collected on imports at ports in the U.S.
is used solely for its intended purposed of dredging and maintaining
the nation's waterways.

Collins
is also supporting continued funding for the Great Lakes Restoration
Initiative. The inter-agency program helps to protect and preserve
the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Great Lakes are the source of drinking
water for 30 million Americans, and hold 95 percent of the nation's
supply of fresh water.

Collins'
congressional district is bordered by Lake Erie to the west and Lake
Ontario to the north.